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All players start out with a knife in the third weapon slot. Unlike the other weapons, it cannot be dropped.

When held, players are able to run at the fastest speed possible, which is measured at 250 units/second, and for that reason it is often used when rushing. With any weapon or equipment other than the knife you run slower (There is an exception though as a Steyr Scout user can run at 260 units/second) than 250 units/second, with the speed depending on the weapon (from 245 for grenades to 195 for LMGs). In Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, only the knife and the bomb grant no speed reduction.

The knife has a fast, low-damage primary attack and a slow, high-damage secondary attack which can kill most opponents with two stabs (one if the back of a target is attacked).

The knife is useful if speed reduction is not an option, especially when leaving a bombsite that is about to explode. However, it should not be used when you have contact with other enemies.

The only weapon that beats the knife in movement speed is the Scout in older games.

If you and your opponent are both injured and the last members of your respective teams, running around with a knife and (accidentally) encountering them can result in a kill with a knife if it is in close quarters. This is best done if your opponent doesn't have a powerful weapon out and your arrival is unexpected: meaning your opponent isn't camping and is running around as well.

If a silenced firearm is not available, the knife can be used to sneak around and eliminate enemies armed with sniper rifles. Depending on their skills, luck, and the situation, they may stand still to camp a choke point, or are distracted.

Keep in mind that the secondary attack has shorter range. As an example, the secondary attack does not reach the ground you're standing on unless you crouch, but the primary attack does.

If confronting an opponent at close to mid range and both of you have used most, if not all, of your ammunition for both your primary and secondary weapons, quickly draw out your knife to go for the kill as it is quicker than reloading and both of you are already moderately injured. Thus, the first one to hit the other will usually win. However, this tactic is not recommended if you are facing more than one opponent or for long ranges.

Be warned however, depending on how hasty enemies are, they may simply run backward while reloading their weapons instead of challenging you with the knife. If you unable to hit any retreating foes, quickly fall back far away from the position of assailants and quickly reload your weapon. However, if they do switch to the knife, killing enemies will depend on your reaction, skill, and luck.

Unlike firearms, using the knife will only make a small amount noise within the area, though it is still louder than firearms fitted with a silencer.

The fastest way to kill a full health enemy with a knife (when you are unable to backstab e.g. a knife fight) is by using the primary fire twice then using the secondary fire once.

When an enemy target is unaware of your location or they are attacking your teammates while you are behind him, you can sneak behind the enemy and stab him; a single stab will kill the target instantly. This is not recommended when multiple enemies are at same area, unless they are not paying attention.

Footsteps play an important role when attempting to backstab someone. If you run too much, you will be detected. Stab at the back of a target and run only if they are distracted or when reaching close proximity.

Despite being a quiet weapon, knife attacks are still audible at short ranges.

When engaged in hand-to-hand combat, aim for the face of the target, as it will get an instant kill in Counter-Strike 1.6 and in Condition Zero. Avoid engaging the enemy head-on when your health is below 45m as a secondary attack will kill you instantly.

Depending on the distance and the enemy's health, it may be more wise to use the primary attack than the secondary attack and vice versa.

The knife is useful for breaking objects since it does not use ammunition and it makes less noise.

If you encounter an enemy who is wielding the knife in open areas (provided they are not at point blank range), he can be easily killed with any firearm since switching back to another weapon takes time.

However, this can be seen as a lack of sportsmanship in special cases, such as when a knife duel is declared.

Avoid engaging multiple enemies with the Knife in hand-to-hand combat as you are unlikely to survive.

In later or near the end of the round, if your location is too quiet, look every 10 second behind/around you so the enemy is unlikely to kill you with a backstab. Also, listen to footsteps as this is an important tactic to prevent getting killed.

Make you back against the wall will reduce the chance of being instantly killed by knife.

When defusing the bomb, make sure that all Terrorists are killed. If not, have at least one backup unit next to you so the enemy cannot kill you with a knife from behind while you defuse the bomb.

When engaging an enemy from afar (especially with a rifle), make sure there is either someone guarding your back or find a secure position as one can come up from behind with a knife while their teammate/s distract you.

In the older games, the knife is the only weapon that cannot be purchased and can't be be dropped. However, after the January 27, 2016 update of Global Offensive, it can be dropped at will if the console command mp_drop_knife_enable is set to 1 in a community server.

The knife in Deleted Scenes does not have an idle animation, the secondary attack will have a unique animation as well.

In Counter-Strike: Condition Zero, there are new animations and sounds for the knife. If the player is to use the secondary attack with the knife equipped on a solid surface or on another player, the knife has a stab animation in which the knife twists. Otherwise, the animation does not occur if the player is swinging the knife at empty space.

In Deleted Scenes, Turn of the Crank is the only mission that the player is not equipped with a knife.

Bots will only use the knife if all firearms and equipment have been restricted, their weapons have run out of ammo, at the beginning of a round for rushing purposes, or they are attempting to leave a bombsite before the C4 explodes. Bots set on higher difficulty will equip knife first until they encounter the enemy.

In Counter-Strike: Source, the slash and stab animations are switched.

Counter-Strike: Global Offensive includes special animations for backstabbing. For the primary attack, the character thrusts with the tip of the knife, and the secondary attack is a stab with a backhand grip.

All cosmetic knives share the same range as the default knife, despite their blades being different lengths.